Let’s face it – 2020 has been a strange year.
But God was not surprised by all the events that have happened.

Would you join me in a four-week countdown to Thanksgiving?
When we stop for a moment, we realize we have much to be thankful for.

⁶ And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. ⁷ And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. ⁸ And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.

(Mark 8:6-8, English Standard Version)

In this familiar passage, a great crowd of about four thousand people had followed Jesus out to a desolate place, and He was teaching them for three days. Jesus was concerned about sending them home without any food, as some of them had come from a very long distance to hear Him speak.

The disciples rummaged around among themselves and found a few biscuits and small fish. Jesus took the food, gave thanks for it, broke it into pieces, then told the disciples to pass it out to the people.

And a miracle happened.

Four thousand people ate, were filled up and satisfied, and there was food left over.

Jesus knew the spiritual hunger of His listeners, and fed them spiritually. He also knew the physical limitations of the human body, and also nourished the crowd physically.

In these days of pandemic and shortages of supplies in stores, it’s important to remember Who supplies all our needs. Sometimes I may not have all I want, but I have all I need.

And for that, I am thankful.

A simple meal, with a thankful heart attitude, yields a person satisfied in both body and soul.

Lord, today I am thankful that You created all good things for us to eat, and have invited us to co-create and enjoy different combinations of those good eats You so generously provide.

Lord, help me to remember that You provide food for both body and soul, and both are needed in my life.

Lord, You have so generously provided food for both body and soul – help me to be aware of my neighbors’ needs, and offer both to them as You lead.
Thank You for the story of Your care and feeding the four thousand.

Thank You, Lord, for Your overwhelming provisions – help me to share Your bounty with others, serving both You and them with joy.

Amen.

Learning to see and appreciate God’s overwhelming abundance and joyfully share His bounty with others via word and deed,
~kevin